Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-10-14
tiful she isl" said Raymond.

" 81 =
Pierre took her in his strong arms
In spite Of all the efforts of the two broth
ers, Suzanne did not regain consciousness,
and they looked Mt each other in despair.
1--WE must get help" said Raymond. "She
will bleed to death. Go bring Catharine and
tell her husband to bring the carriole.n
At last Suzanne opened her eyes, though
the pain in her head was so great that she
could scarcely see anything. She tried to
rise but sank back again. Then Raymond
timidly spoke, telling her that she had had
an accident and must keep STILL that help
would soon come Then he brought water
in his hunting cup and wet her handkerchief
and placed that also upon her head. While
he was occupied with her she noticed be
tween her eyelids his fine and delicate face,
his large, honest eyes, and she felt herself
perfectly at ease with him, which she had
not done with Pierre.
"You are very kind, sir" said she; please
tell me your name, so that my father can
thank you"
"My name is Raymond De Noirville, but l
have done nothing TO be thanked for"
Suddenly Suzanne grew pale again and lost
consciousness At this moment Catharine
and Pierre came, and in few minutes the
carrole arrived. They made all haste TO get
her to the cottage, where they placed her in
bed and brought DOCTOR who declared that
though the wound was grave and she had lost
much blood, she would be all right in fort
night but that she would probably have
fever.
Raymond and Pierre were both anxious,
lint 90 tD al co
each in turn, and unknown to the other, be-
sought Catharine to ride over to the White
House and find out how the young lady was.
Catharne said:
an whose name shall Inquirer Yours or
your mother's!'
MY mothers, of course each answered.
"Ah,' thought Catharne, this is not
| good outlook. Both brothers are certainly
head over heels in love with that young
American. 1t is a sorry day when brothers
become rivals"
Catharine had presented herself as coming
! from Nine. De Norvlle, which, under the
| circumstances, made it incumbent upon
| Roger to go to Meridon farm to thank Nine.
| he Norvlle for the care hsr SOILS had given
his daughter, and he wished also to satisfy
himself as to the question of their identity.
! He put Off the evil day as long as he posi-
! bly, could, fearing that his suspicious would
take form and Nine. De Noirvile prove to be
Julia, and he dreaded any possibility that
either of The young men might touch the
| heart of Suzanne.
She had now been up and about several
days, and even began 10 take her customary
rides, and had already made two Or three
discreet illusions to the duty lie owed his
neighbors of aIeridon farm. Iaroque under
. ! stool thut thA r,,ntDput had opn,. and ba
must accede to the demands of etiquette, and
also to discover il his fears were justified or
not. They drove over to the farm and were
! shown in, when Raymond and Pierre re-
ceiyed them with eifusion. Pierre then went
for his mother and she came in, dressed in
the deepest mourning. Pale, aged and bowed
| and with her once raven treSses almost white,
yet Roger knew her instantly, but her great
dark eyes were raised tn his face without
recognition of him. Nothing had told her
who stood before her. As 70 him, he con-
tanned his emotion with the most painful
effort, and he half looked TO see Iucien ap-
pear.
"Madame." said the poor man, "your sons
have doubtless told you Of the accident
which happened to my daughter, and I was
anxious to thank them for their care of her,
without which most probably she would
have died there alone"
"You exaggerate tine little service we
could render her, sir" replied Raymond.
Pierre was slow Of speech at all times, and
now he could do nothing but devour Suzanne
with his eyes.
As Roger spoke Julia shrunll down in her
chair, and there was on her countenance a
visible expression of fear, which, however,
none remarked. Though she had no idea of
Rogers identity the sound of that voice had
never changed, and her thoughts wandered
TO the days when Roger was still alive. His
eyes We're upon Lucien. AS he ceased to
speak she listened still and she looked at him
with a searching glance. But though it was
Rogers voice she was positive that the man
before her was not Roger.
Presently Raymond proposed that they
should walk in the garden, down through the
avenue of chestnut trees SHZanne and the
two young men walked on triile in advance
of the parents, and they both began to talk
of their children, and Roger socn OWNED that
Julia loved Raymond with a tender, more
absorbing love than she gave to her eldest
born. Pierre knew this, and though it sad
dened him somewhat, he had too noble q
character TO resent 1T or feel jealous. Ray
mond did not know there was a difference
and he almost idolized his brother.
Soon after father and daughter took Their
departure. Julia watched her two sons as the
visitors drove away, and both gave heavy
) sigh as the carriage disappeared, and both ap
peared cast down and melancholy. "Are they
both smitten with the beauty and grace OF
this young grll If so, woe is me-"